Inside the Whitecaps: Homestand continues with Midwest League playoff spot within reach

Who's hot: Designated hitter Clay Jones had a torrid week at the plate and batted .522 (12-for-23) in six games. In his last eight games, Jones has five multi-hit games, two doubles and five RBIs. Since coming off the disabled list July 1, he is hitting .309 in 30 games.

Who's not: First baseman James Robbins hit .143 (3-for-21) last week, and went 1-for-14 with eight strikeouts in a four-game series at Dayton. He has struck out a league-high 129 times in 105 games.

Upcoming games: The Whitecaps (23-19, 55-56) continue a seven-game homestand this week. They wrap up a four-game series against Great Lakes Monday and Tuesday before welcoming first-place Dayton for three games Wednesday-Friday. They begin a six-game road trip at Great Lakes on Saturday.Looking forward: Starting today, the Whitecaps begin a stretch of 11 consecutive games against teams with current winning records in the second half of the Midwest League season. It includes five games against Great Lakes, three with Dayton and three against Fort Wayne.

Analysis: The Whitecaps are heating up as they make a bid toward securing a second half playoff berth in the Midwest League. They have won 7 of their last 10 games and currently are tied with Great Lakes for the wild-card spot. The offense is delivering timely hits, starting pitching has been stellar and a new-look bullpen has held teams in check despite a rash of recent injuries.